Owncast

Owncast is a self‑hosted, decentralized live video streaming platform that focuses on giving developers full ownership of their content and audience. At its core, it is a single‑user server that accepts RTMP streams from any broadcasting software (OBS, Streamlabs, Restream, etc.) and exposes the stream over WebRTC/HTTP‑Live‑Streaming (HLS) for web browsers. The application also provides an integrated chat system, custom emotes, and optional bot hooks, making it a complete live‑event stack without the need for third‑party services.

Architecture & Technical Stack

• Backend: Written in Go (Golang), leveraging its native concurrency and static binaries for efficient deployment. The server implements RTMP ingestion, HLS segment generation, WebSocket chat handling, and a RESTful API for control and monitoring.
• Frontend: Built with React (TypeScript) and served as a single‑page application. It consumes the backend’s WebSocket events for live chat, uses hls.js/videojs for HLS playback, and communicates with the REST API for moderation commands.
• Data Layer: Uses a lightweight file‑based store (SQLite) for user settings, chat history, and moderation logs. No external database is required for basic operation, simplifying deployment.
• Containerization: A ready‑made Docker image (owncast/owncast) bundles the Go binary and React assets, enabling quick deployment on any container‑friendly platform (Docker Compose, Kubernetes, Raspberry Pi).

Core Capabilities & APIs

• RTMP Ingestion: Accepts standard RTMP streams; supports multiple stream keys for multi‑channel setups.
• Live Streaming Delivery: Exposes HLS (.m3u8) and WebRTC endpoints for low‑latency playback.
• Chat System: Real‑time chat via WebSocket; supports custom emotes, message moderation, and bot integration through a simple HTTP webhook.
• REST API: Endpoints for stream status, chat moderation (ban/timeout), and analytics. The API is documented in the official docs and can be consumed by custom dashboards or third‑party tools.
• Federation Hooks: Optional Mastodon/Fediverse integration; streams can be published to the Fediverse via a configurable webhook.

Deployment & Infrastructure

• Self‑Hosting: A single binary (or Docker image) runs on any Linux/Windows/macOS machine. No external services are required; all assets are served from the same instance.
• Scalability: For higher concurrency, deploy multiple replicas behind a reverse proxy (NGINX/Traefik) with sticky sessions. The Go backend can be horizontally scaled, and HLS segments are cached on the filesystem or an object store (S3-compatible) for larger deployments.
• Resource Footprint: Minimal CPU/memory usage—ideal for low‑end hardware like Raspberry Pi or cloud droplets. Typical configurations run comfortably on 1 GB RAM and a modest CPU.

Integration & Extensibility

• Plugin System: While no formal plugin API exists, the open‑source nature allows developers to fork or extend the Go backend. The REST API and WebSocket events are stable, enabling custom tooling.
• Webhooks: Chat messages, moderation actions, and stream events can be forwarded to external services (e.g., Discord bots, analytics dashboards) via HTTP POST.
• Custom UI: The React frontend is modular; developers can replace components or add new pages, then rebuild the static bundle and redeploy.

Developer Experience

• Configuration: A single config.yaml file controls RTMP keys, port numbers, and optional federation URLs. Environment variables can override defaults for CI/CD pipelines.
• Documentation: Comprehensive docs cover API usage, broadcasting setup, and deployment scenarios. The README is concise yet detailed for developers.
• Community & Support: Active GitHub repository with issue tracking, a good‑first‑issue label for newcomers, and an Open Collective for funding. The license (MIT) allows unrestricted commercial use.

Use Cases

1. Independent Streamers – Replace Twitch/YouTube with a private server, retaining all chat and viewership data.
2. Educational Platforms – Host live lectures or workshops with full control over content and audience interaction.
3. Enterprise Internal Communications – Broadcast meetings or training sessions internally without external service dependencies.
4. IoT & Live Monitoring – Stream live camera feeds (RTMP) to a local server for real‑time monitoring and archival.

Advantages Over Alternatives

• Ownership & Privacy: All data stays on your premises; no third‑party retention or monetization policies.
• Performance: Go’s concurrency model delivers low latency streaming and chat handling even on modest hardware.
• Licensing: MIT license removes any usage restrictions, allowing integration into proprietary software or services.
• Simplicity: One binary (or Docker image) + minimal config; no complex orchestration required for basic use.
• Extensibility: Open source codebase enables custom feature addition, whether adding new chat commands or integrating with other protocols.

Owncast offers developers a robust, low‑overhead platform to build custom live streaming experiences while maintaining full control over the data and user experience.